Making A Difference: Filipino Talent Owning It In 2017

I like to equate 2017’s Kong: Skull Island took a page from 1997’s Anaconda where in that film, a Puerto-Rican woman and an African American male were the only survivors. So, to see a majority of the PoC cast including the character of ‘Reles’ (played by our 2015 Hollywood Actors Panelist, Eugene Cordero) survived their escape from Skull Island. I was secretly rooting for his character not to end up as a casualty. Wiped my sweat off my brow.

Netflix released Jo Koy‘s Live from Seattle comedy special. Since then, he’s been selling out shows, most recently in Hawaii with a total of thirteen shows in Maui and Oahu. He broke Honolulu’s record with over 23,000 tickets sold — and that was when he had eleven shows sold out!

Ginger Gonzaga is another actor on this list who have appeared in more than one television show in 2017. She appeared in TBS’ Wrecked and Hulu’s Chance. She even wrote, directed and starred in the film, Your Day.

Ginger Gonzaga as ‘Maggie’ in Showtime’s I’m Dying Up Here.

Mig Macario as ‘Dr. Michael Bateman’ on CBS’ Criminal Minds.

Nico Santos as ‘Mateo’ in NBC’s Superstore.

Reggie Lee is another actor on this list who have appeared in more than one television show in 2017. He guest starred on Fox’s Brooklyn Nine-Nine as ‘Dr. Ronald Yee.’

Reggie Lee guest starred as ‘Joey Kang’ on CBS’ Hawaii Five-O.

Aris Juson as ‘Aiden’ in the viral short Star Wars: The Force And The Fury

Our 2017 Hollywood Actors Panelist, Manny Jacinto is another actor on this list who have appeared in more than one television show in 2017.

Manny Jacinto guest stars as ‘Bobby Ato’ in ABC’s The Good Doctor

Manny Jacinto as ‘Jason Mendoza’ in NBC’s The Good Place

Josephine Leily in a Prego Spaghetti commercial

Sonya Balmores as ‘Auran’ in ABC’s Marvel’s The Inhumans

Darion Basco as ‘Javier’ and Maureen Sebastian as ‘Adele’ in CBS’ S.W.A.T.

Jacob Batalon as ‘Ned Leeds’ and Ethan Dizon as ‘Tiny’ (the latter not included in this clip) in Sony Pictures’ Spider-Man: Homecoming.

Hailee Steinfeld performed on The 2017 American Music Awards.

Marc Fajardo as ‘Danny’ on CBS’ S.W.A.T.

Erin Lim hosts E! Entertainment’s The Rundown at Snapchat.

Liza Lapira as ‘Eve’ in CBS’ 9JKL

Alex Mallari, Jr. as ‘Ryo’ in SYFY’s Dark Matter.

Ivory Aquino as ‘Cecilia Chung’ on ABC’s When We Rise

Zedrick Restauro as ‘Street Vendor’shared a scene with Vanessa Hudgens on NBC’s Powerless.

Eden Estrella as ‘Sam’ on Universal Pictures’ The Fate of the Furious

Kamran Lucas as ‘Harris’ on Disney XD’s Mech-X4

Anatalia Villaranda competed on NBC’s The Voice

Tia Carrere as ‘Chow Lin’ on CBS’ Blue Bloods

The question asked this year was, “Is Lars Barriga a Filipino?” You be the judge.

Our 2016 Television Writers Panelist, Ray Utarnachitt wrote four episodes in 2017 for the CW’s DC’s Legends of Tomorrow in Seasons 2 and 3. The first Season 3 episode he wrote titled Zari introduced the first television Muslim superheroine, Zari Tomaz.

Ray Utarnachitt wrote two episodes in 2017; Zari for the CW’s Legends of Tomorrow.

Our 2017 Hollywood Actors Panelist, Vincent Rodriguez III is another actor on this list who have appeared in more than one television show in 2017. He guest starred on ABC’s Designated Survivor as ‘Owen Saldua.’

Vincent Rodriguez III as ‘Josh Chan’ on The CW’s Crazy Ex-Girlfriend.

Our 2017 2nd Television Writers Panelist, Dennis Saldua wrote two episodes in 2017 for CBS’ Salvation.

The first female professional to win on the show, Cheryl Burke returned to Dancing With The Stars. She also became the new instructor on Dance Moms. And, her Love On The Floor Tour played in the U.S. after its run in Japan this year.

Our 2017 Hollywood Actors Panelist, Angela Relucio is another actor on this list who have appeared in more than one television show in 2017. She recurs on History’s SIX as ‘Lt. Camille Fung.’

Angela Relucio as ‘Risa Park’ on CBS’ Code Black.

Matthew Libatique was the cinematographer for Paramount Pictures’ Mother!

Fallah Bahh wrestles at Pop TV’s Impact Wrestling.

Charlyne Yi is another actor on this list who have worked in more than one television show in 2017 other than Steven Universe. And, she is also in a film.

Charlene Yi as ‘Safoya’ on A24 Films’ The Disaster Artist.

Charlene Yi as ‘Ruby’ on Showtime’s Twin Peaks.

Sheaden Gabriel and Dante Basco star in Bangarang: The Hook Prequel.

Our 2017 Hollywood Actors Panelist, Aina Dumlao is another actor on this list who have appeared in more than one television show in 2017. She recurred on HBO’s Ballers as ‘Natalie.’

Aina Dumlao as ‘Andi Lee’ on CBS’ MacGyver.

Teo Briones is another actor on this list who have worked in more than one project in 2017. He starred in Wind River as ‘Casey’ with Jeremy Renner, Elizabeth Olsen and Graham Greene.

Teo Briones as ‘Will Jin’ on Amazon Prime’s Will vs. The Future.

DJZ returns to Pop TV’s Impact Wrestling at AAA’s TripleMania.

Bob Morley as ‘Bellamy Blake’ on the CW’s The 100.

Charles Michael Davis as ‘Marcel Gerard’ on the CW’s The Originals.

World Wonder Ring Stardom’s wrestler Kris Wolf featured on CBS This Morning.

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FilAm Creative

FilAm Creative is a Los Angeles-based community organization dedicated to the advancement and empowerment of Filipinos and Filipino Americans in the media and entertainment industry.
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